Month: October 2022

Keeneland Honors Queen Elizabeth II Via Green Canopy Initiative

Keeneland announced Tuesday that the track has planted six cherry trees – three on either side of the infield tote board – in tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. A lifelong horsewoman, Queen Elizabeth II attended the races at Keeneland on Oct. 11, 1984, for the inaugural running of the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, for which she presented the trophy.

Keeneland will celebrate the 39th running of the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1), now presented by Dixiana and worth $600,000, on Saturday. The internationally prestigious, invitation only turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies has been won by champions Dayatthespa and Rushing Fall, and by such multiple graded stakes winners as Cambier Parc, Film Maker, Memories of Silver, Riskaverse, Shantisara (IRE) and Vacare.

The tree planting at Keeneland is part of The Queen's Green Canopy initiative to mark The Queen's Platinum Jubilee and to serve as a living legacy to her “extraordinary service to her country and her people.” The Queen passed away on Sept. 8.

“Queen Elizabeth II was an unmatched horsewoman and a tremendous patron of Thoroughbred racing,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “We were fortunate to have welcomed The Queen to Keeneland and Central Kentucky, and her visits to the Bluegrass created a lasting connection. We are honored to pay tribute to her racing legacy.”

To further commemorate The Queen's historic visit to Keeneland, her Platinum Jubilee and her involvement in Thoroughbred racing, the Keeneland Library this year featured the photo exhibit “Elizabeth II: Horsewoman.” A video of the exhibit and a beautifully appointed scrapbook of the photos on display were sent to The Queen, who responded with a thank-you letter (penned by her Lady-in-Waiting) on Windsor Castle stationery.

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Grade 2 Winner Greatest Honour Retired To Spendthrift Farm For 2023

Courtlandt Farm's Greatest Honour, winner of Gulfstream Park's Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes and G3 Holy Bull Stakes on the 2021 Kentucky Derby trail, has retired to stud at Spendthrift Farm and will stand the 2023 breeding season for a fee of $7,500 S&N.

“Greatest Honour has one of the best combinations of pedigree, looks and ability among the sons of Tapit that we've evaluated,” said Ned Toffey, Spendthrift general manager. “Unfortunately, he came up with an injury in last year's Florida Derby as the odds-on favorite before the Triple Crown. Prior to that, he was so dominant at Gulfstream that he was in the top three along with Essential Quality and Life Is Good as the favorites for the Kentucky Derby in many of the early wagering pools.

“Greatest Honour's second dam is Better Than Honour who needs no introduction, and he's a big, strong son of Tapit that has 'classic' written all over him. Because he did not get to fulfill his tremendous potential on the track, we believe Greatest Honour offers a lot of value and upside now to breeders for $7,500,” added Toffey.

Trained by Shug McGaughey, Greatest Honour broke his maiden as a 2-year-old, defeating Grade 2 winner Dynamic One to go on a three-race win streak at Gulfstream. He jumped straight into graded stakes company and captured the $200,000 Holy Bull Stakes going away by 5 ¾ lengths. Greatest Honour followed that up with a win in the $300,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes, defeating Grade 1 winner Drain the Clock by 1 ½ lengths going away.

Bred and owned by Don Adam's Courtlandt Farm, Greatest Honour retires with earnings of $446,440. He is out of the Street Cry (Ire) mare Tiffany's Honour, a half-sister to champion and classic winner Rags to Riches, classic winner Jazil, Breeders' Cup winner Man of Iron, among others. Greatest Honour's second dam, Better Than Honour, was the Broodmare of the Year in 2007.

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Greatest Honour Retired to Spendthrift

Courtlandt Farm's Greatest Honour (Tapit–Tiffany's Honour, by Street Cry {Ire}), winner of Gulfstream's GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. and GIII Holy Bull S., has retired to stud at Spendthrift Farm and will stand the 2023 breeding season for a fee of $7,500 S&N.

“Greatest Honour has one of the best combinations of pedigree, looks and ability among the sons of Tapit that we've evaluated,” said Ned Toffey, Spendthrift general manager. “Unfortunately, he came up with an injury in last year's Florida Derby as the odds-on favorite before the Triple Crown. Prior to that, he was so dominant at Gulfstream that he was in the top three along with Essential Quality and Life Is Good as the favorites for the Kentucky Derby in many of the early wagering pools.

Bred and owned by Don Adam's Courtlandt Farm, Greatest Honour retires with earnings of $446,440. He is out of Tiffany's Honour, a half-sister to Belmont S. winner Jazil and champion and Classic heroine Rags to Riches, in addition to Breeders' Cup victor Man of Iron. Greatest Honour's second dam, Better Than Honour, was the Broodmare of the Year in 2007.

“Greatest Honour's second dam is Better Than Honour who needs no introduction, and he's a big, strong son of Tapit that has 'classic' written all over him,” added Toffey. “Because he did not get to fulfill his tremendous potential on the track, we believe Greatest Honour offers a lot of value and upside now to breeders for $7,500.”

Trained by Shug McGaughey, Greatest Honour broke his maiden as a 2-year-old, to go on a three-race win streak at Gulfstream, including the Holy Bull followed a win in the Fountain of Youth.

Greatest Honour is available for inspection at Spendthrift.

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Varian Goes To 700k Gns For Sea The Stars (Ire) Colt

Longview Stud consigned a colt by Sea The Stars (Ire) (lot 1048) during Book 2 on Tuesday, and the chestnut son of dual stakes winner Along Came Casey (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) caught the eye of Roger Varian at 700,000gns to take the lead for the session. Also placed three times at Group 3 level, the mare has already produced the G3 Darley S. winner Feliciana De Vega (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). Bred by Highview Bloodstock, Ltd., the colt's extended family contains GI Beverly D. S. heroine Fire The Groom (Blushing Groom {Fr}), the dam of G1 July Cup and G1 Nunthorpe S. hero and sire Stravinsky (Nureyev).

 

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